Generic Fan or Fanatic...?

[Zahzoo]

Which are you?

From Webster's Dictionary:

Main Entry: 3fan
Function: noun
Etymology: probably short for fanatic
Date: 1682
1 : an enthusiastic devotee (as of a sport or a performing art) usually as a spectator
2 : an ardent admirer or enthusiast (as of a celebrity or a pursuit) <science-fiction fans>

I was pondering the whole vibe that runs the boards where Van Halen is concerned this evening and a thought occurred to me...

Are we mearly fans or fanatics...? You make the call...??

If you are just a common household fan... you probably rely on your local Rock radio station for your music news. Occasionally picking up a blerb or so in your local newspaper or a trade rag (magazine for the slang impaired). Beyond that you don't actively seek information on your favoriate band. Information age-wise you are probably living back in the 80's or early 90's on your sources and probably living a fairly normal life...

What does this mean... VH is on hiatus you know that. Sam and Dave roll into town and talk shit on the local radio station... yer pumped and ready to slap down your $60 after hearing Diamond Dave/Sammy bringing to your naked steaming eyes that grand excitement that has been missing since your late teens/early audult life. The real deal!!!

You are a fan. With a life and all the necessary trappings.

Shift into overdrive now... same scenario but...
VH is on hiatus you know that... you been hanging out on Links, SoCalChelle's, VHrocks, the Dome, Vhvault, the Army, and taking imorale side trips to HitchWorld for the last 2 years. You don't believe one 1/100th of the crap spewed by your local radio station cause you know the DJ's are just posers who believe anything posted on the net. You don't read the local newspaper entertainment section cause you know it's some liberal influenced sugar coated bullshit. You are a knowledgable, informed person that knows exactly every word verbatum of the lyrics to eruption. Everytime Dave farts in a southernly direction you know it's a sign that he is back in a Mighty reunion with Van Halen.

Or same deal but you know that every third terd Sammy shits is just another indicator that Van Hagar is back on-line and engaged in the big time...

Then you are a fanatic.

What's my point?

I've decided that... I'm a fanatic. I've spent the last 3 years analyzing every fucking hair on a Van Halen knat's ass and have absolutely nothing to show for it but having the fond knowledge that I share this with a hundred or so other totally cool bastards who are just as sick minded as I am!!!!

We ROCK!!! Fuck the casual fan!!! It's fanatic or the grave!!! Nothin but YEAH!!!! [img]graemlins/thumb.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/thumb.gif[/img]

[VHwasCoolestWithDLR]

All this talk about Dave farting and Sammy shitting is making me sick

[Zahzoo]

Don't get sick... it's just an analogy of how every thing that comes outta those two is scrutinized to death here and abroad!! Crude...? Yep but it's intended to emphasize how deep the fanatic river runs... [img]graemlins/thumb.gif[/img]

[Burning Tires]

Hello, my name is Tires.

I am a fanatic.

(hangs head)

[Dennis]

Was a fanatic...now just a fan....currently slipping into disease.

[TPStang]

Recovering Fanatic...HOWEVER, my Doctor has told me that the medication is working, and that he'd be able to lower my daily doseage. And at least that damn twitch has finally gone aaaaaway.

[Raldo]

I for one will always be a fanatic. I think I discovered this when a classmate made fun of me because I wrote the name of every VH song (to date) on the back of my notebook.

[Zahzoo]

Originally posted by Chelle:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Shift into overdrive now... same scenario but...VH is on hiatus you know that... you been hanging out on Links, SoCalChelle's, VHrocks, the Dome, Vhvault, the Army, and taking imorale side trips to HitchWorld for the last 2 years.

If just hanging out at these sites makes you a fanatic, what does RUNNING one of those sites make you? </font>[/QUOTE]A Grand Poohbah or Poohbette of the evil empire of VH Fanatics... [img]graemlins/scared.gif[/img]

[jrk5150]

Compared to some of the nuts I've seen here, I'm a strong fan, but certainly not a fanatic. Compared to everyone I actually know, I am a fucking freako fanatic.

And, I'd say Maya's firmly in the fanatic camp after taking a TRAIN to Boston to see the show!!! You go girl! [img]graemlins/thumb.gif[/img]

[muffdiver]

i think most of us are fans....and we have a computer...fanatics are the silly bastards that hang out in front of their houses and go gaga over them....they all fucked up... hope i didn't offend anyone... [img]graemlins/wtf.gif[/img]

[Canyon Carver]

I'm a fanatic according to my familly and co-workers, but feel like a serious fan. Although my passion is slipping away a little more everyday.
Thank goodness there's great music being written and played nowadays too. Check out Ark, and Dream Theater. It's prog-metal, and a lot of VH fans like them too.
Give them a try.

[Han Valen]

Originally posted by Canyon Carver:
I'm a fanatic according to my familly and co-workers, but feel like a serious fan. Although my passion is slipping away a little more everyday.
Thank goodness there's great music being written and played nowadays too. Check out Ark, and Dream Theater. It's prog-metal, and a lot of VH fans like them too.
Give them a try.

Dream Theater kick ass [img]graemlins/thumb.gif[/img]
Saw them for the first time in '92 on the Images and Words tour at a small club in Philly with about 20 people in attendance. Awesome show though.

[Han Valen]

Oh yeah, I'm a VH fanatic by the way. [img]graemlins/scared.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/thumb.gif[/img]

[Dan Halen]

Another fanatic here. Van Halen is a big part of my life.